Long-time diners in the Grand Valley will tell you about the amazing cinnamon-roll French toast and other breakfast and lunch greats served over the years at The Crystal Cafe on Main Street. Owners Harley and Carol served creative food and treated every customer like guests in their home.

When the Crystal sold a while back, locals craved the cafe's creative offerings and, though other area breakfast establishments served delicious bacon and eggs, there was something missing.

Enter The Dream Cafe. After an extensive remodel, the Dream opened at the former Crystal Cafe location in the 300 block of Main Street in Grand Junction. The skylight remains, giving the space a light and airy glow. Bamboo floors and splashes of bright color blend to give the modern decor a happy, inviting feel. But the real draw is the food and drink. The menu offers a variety of breakfast and lunch items made from real ingredients. Diners rave about the house-made appropriately beefy corned beef hash. The hash browns are made from real potatoes and taste like it.

The real standouts are the many varieties of eggs Benedict, mimosas and bloody Marys. Order a traditional Benedict or get fancy with varieties made with crab cakes, vegetables, smoked salmon and more. Likewise, there are five or six varieties each of mimosas and bloody Marys.

The lunch menu is centered around delectable sandwiches and includes a popular portobello mushroom sandwich that once graced the Crystal Cafe menu. The service at the Dream is prompt, friendly and informed, and the overall vibe is relaxed. Prices are reasonable, at $10 or less for most menu items – not bad for real food.